A measure of global equity markets advanced on Tuesday as technology earnings lifted U.S. shares and the prospect of European Central Bank corporate bond purchases boosted European stocks, while weighing on safe-haven U.S. Treasuries prices.
Shares of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Texas Instruments Inc (TXN.O) gained on stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings, driving up the tech-heavy Nasdaq index more than 2 percent and helping the S&P 500 mark a fourth straight session of gains.
"Apple did have a strong impact," said Margaret Patel, senior portfolio manager at Wells Capital Management in Boston. "When a stock that big which is widely held reports great earnings, it helps to lift the overall market."
Patel, who does not own Apple shares, said the stock market was "primed to rally."
"Our correction is pretty much over and the market will do better as companies report results over the next few weeks," she said.
The S&P 500 rose 1.96 percent, its biggest daily percentage gain since Oct. 10, 2013, while the Nasdaq posted its biggest percentage gain since January 2013. The Dow rose more than 1 percent, despite a selloff in the shares of component Coca-Cola (KO.N) after the company reported disappointing results.
European shares gained on a Reuters report that the ECB was readying a plan to buy corporate bonds. The purchases are seen as helping banks free up more of their balance sheets for lending.
"You see the European Central Bank now coming to the fore, signaling their intent to increase their balance sheet, and that is allowing the market to breathe a little sigh of relief," said Kevin Caron, market strategist at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co in Florham Park, New Jersey.
The news on the ECB sent low-risk U.S. Treasuries prices down and hurt the euro.
MSCI's all-country world index .MIWD00000PUS was last up 1.38 percent at 405.45, while the FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 of top European shares closed up 2.09 percent at 1,299.26.
The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI closed up 1.31 percent at 16,614.81, while the S&P 500 .SPX closed up 1.96 percent at 1,941.28. The Nasdaq Composite .IXIC closed up 2.4 percent at 4,419.48.
The dollar index .DXY, which tracks the greenback versus a basket of six currencies, was up 0.48 percent at 85.357.
Benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury notes were last down 12/32 in price to yield 2.23 percent.
Oil prices rose. Brent crude LCOc1 settled up 82 cents, or 0.96 percent, at $86.22 per barrel. U.S. crude CLc1 settled up 10 cents, or 0.12 percent, at $82.81 per barrel.
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